Weddings

Congratulations on your upcoming marriage!

You have found the right partner, and you are ready to celebrate your love for each other by exchanging vows, with God’s blessing, and with people important to you both in attendance. Stittsville United Church is happy to support your plans, and welcomes every couple who wish to be married in a holy service of worship.

You have probably received this leaflet as a result of an inquiry about being married at Stittsville United Church.  If after reading this information, you choose to proceed with discussing your plans to be married here at Stittsville United, please complete the first page of the “Wedding Information Form” and return it to the church.  The minister will then contact you in order to set a time for the initial meeting.

We hope and pray that God will be with you as you plan your wedding, as you make your vows of love and faithfulness to one another, and as you grow in your relationship over the coming years.  We will do our best to help you celebrate your marriage with a meaningful service of worship in which you will make your commitment to one another in God’s presence.  We also wish to let you know that we would be pleased to be of assistance to you in any way we can in the days and years following your wedding.

Booking your wedding

All requests for weddings will be directed to the Worship Committee of Stittsville United Church for approval. Please note that we consider your wedding in the sanctuary to be a sacred service of worship, and we will pray for you both.

It is important that you meet with the Minister before you make any specific plans (such as booking a reception hall or ordering invitations), just in case the church is unavailable at the date and time you would like to hold your wedding ceremony.

Our church staff

All our church staff are happy to assist in every wedding held at Stittsville United Church. If you wish to involve other clergy, or musicians, please make your request known to us as soon as possible.  In cases where the Stittsville United Church staff members are not participating in the wedding, they are to be paid their regular fees, as they play consultative roles in preparing for the service.

Meeting with our Minister

Our Minister will meet with you to talk about your plans for the service, and any other issues about married life that you would wish to discuss.  Normally there are three meetings: the first is introductory, the second is to discuss the details of the service, and the third will finalize the plans and payments.  The times and dates of these meetings, the rehearsal, and the wedding will normally be confirmed at your first meeting.

Meeting with our Director of Music

Our Director of Music provides music for weddings at Stittsville United Church. Please make an appointment at least two months before the service to discuss your music requests, including soloists and any special music requests. There is an additional fee for any rehearsals offsite. If you do not require an organist, please advise the Minister at your first meeting.  A church wedding is a service of worship and praise, so we ask that special consideration be taken to ensure that your musical selections are appropriate for the occasion and the setting.  Please consult with the Director of Music before any selections are finalized.

Marriage Preparation

We do not require couples to attend pre-marital preparation courses. However we can supply information about such courses if requested.

Fees

Please contact suchurch@primus.ca or (613) 836-4962

Flowers, Photographs, and Decorations

The church is open one hour before the wedding ceremony is to begin. To arrange for the delivery of flowers and/or other decorations, please speak with the Minister. On some occasions decorations may be placed in the sanctuary at the time of the rehearsal; this must be arranged in advance.  Please discuss your decoration plans at the first meeting with the Minister, and let us know if you plan to leave any flowers in the sanctuary after the ceremony, for the use of the church.

In order to ensure that there are no distractions during the wedding service, guests will be asked to refrain from taking photographs after the wedding party is in place at the front of the church. Photos may be taken when the couple kisses, and at the signing of the documents. We request that any video cameras or live-streaming devices be placed on stationary tripods. Official photographers may take non-flash, noiseless photos from the back of the sanctuary during the service. Following the service, arrangements can be made to pose for additional photographs.

Please do not use confetti, rice, etc., either inside or outside of the church building. It is extremely difficult to clean up. Also, please do not use tape, glue, or thumbtacks when attaching decorations.

The marriage licence

A marriage licence can be obtained from most city, township or town offices in Ontario. The marriage licence is valid anywhere in Ontario for three months from the date of purchase. Your marriage licence should be provided to the Minister at the third meeting. Further information about obtaining a marriage licence is available at the following website: http://www.ontario.ca/en/life_events/married/004444.html

We hope this information will assist you in your wedding plans.
Please let us know if you have any questions.
We pray that God will richly bless you in your life together!